Syrian anti-narcotics authorities have seized 600,000 captagon pills and arrested two individuals during operations in Homs and Idlib provinces, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the raids also led to the confiscation of weapons, ammunition, and grenades.
Post-Assad Crackdown Intensifies
Since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in 2024, Syrian authorities have ramped up efforts to dismantle cross-border drug networks. Under Assad, Syria became a major hub for captagon production and trafficking, with the government largely ignoring regional concerns about the drug's impact. Captagon, an amphetamine-type stimulant, has flooded Middle Eastern markets, fueling addiction and violence.
Regional Impact and UN Data
According to figures published last year by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, authorities across the Arab region have intercepted at least 177 million captagon tablets since the regime change. The latest seizure underscores ongoing efforts to curb the illicit trade that once thrived under state protection.
